Volume 8-2 Fall 2010 Volume 9-1 Spring 2011

Tailings

Official Site of the Nevada State Mining Championships - Memorial Day Weekend – May 28th & 29th

Every year, over Memorial Day weekend as part of Jim Butler Days, the Tonopah Historic Mining Park hosts the Nevada State Mining Championships. This two day event features both professional and amateur competitions. This event has been held for more than 30 years and involves the many skills that miners needed to make a living at their profession. Event contests include double and single jack drilling, individual and team mucking, spike driving, timber toss, timber sawing and the newest event, blindfolded wheelbarrow obstacle course.

On Saturday the professional mining events start immediately after the Jim Butler parade, normally around high noon. Both women and men are invited to participate in a wide variety of events. Large cash prizes are the incentive and the reward is being able to brag that you are the Nevada State Champion! The actual prize money is all donated by supportive companies and individuals. The more money donated, the bigger the purse. Also, all entry fees are added in and used to boost the final take even more. All comers are invited to participate. However, if you enter the professional events, you aren't eligible to compete in the amateur events on Sunday. A minimum of three participants must be entered for an event to be held. Check out our website - www.tonopahhistoricminingpark.com.

Continued on page 12

Tonopah Historic Mining Park Presents

At left: Brock Boscovich competing in the single jack drilling competition. Brock is

the reigning single jack and individual mucking champion. At Right: Heidi Bertolino puts her back into the Women’s Mucking Event.

2

RRReeessstttooorrraaatttiiiooonnn ooofff aaa LLLaaannndddmmmaaarrrkkk iiinnn TTTooonnnooopppaaahhh

The Mizpah Hotel,

located on Main

Street in front of the

mining park was

completed in 1908

and opened with

great ceremony.

Over $200,000 was

spent on the hotel,

which boasted

baths, steam heat and elevators. The historic

Mizpah Hotel has been purchased by Combination

Seven, LLC, with restoration underway at this time.

The buyers are a family group, headed by Fred and

Nancy Cline of Sonoma, California with roots in

Tonopah and Goldfield going back to 1900.

Harry Ramsey, Nancy’s great uncle, arrived in the

boomtown of Tonopah and set up Ramsey’s Saloon

on Main Street. In a very short time he became

active in the mining business; grub staking local

mines such as the Mizpah, Combination and North

Star and then providing the start up funds for a

new mining camp known as “grandpa,” which later

became Goldfield.

In 1904, Ramsey had interests in mines from Reno

to Beatty, he then moved his family to California,

yet returning for regular visits until his death in

1915. Harry Ramsey’s sister, Emma, who was

Nancy Cline’s grandmother, was postmistress of

Goldfield until the family moved to California.

The Mizpah has been closed since 2001. Previous

to that it was the center of political power for the

entire state of Nevada and until its closing was a

major anchor for tourism in central

Nevada.

“It is our intent to honor the hardworking men and

women of Nevada’s past, as well as those who

have stayed on as guardians of an incredible

history, which is deeply integrated into Nevada’s

future and California’s past… We are very

appreciative of this opportunity to restore the

Mizpah and understand the importance of this

project to the community. We consider it a sacred

trust,” said Fred Cline when handed the keys to the

property.

The Clines own the Cline Cellars Winery and Jacuzzi

Family Vineyards and Winery located in Sonoma,

~ Mizpah Hotel – Continued on page 4 ~

3

BBBeeelllmmmooonnnttt MMMiiinnneee FFFiiirrreee On February 28, 1911, a mysterious fire broke out at the bottom of the twelve hundred foot shaft of the Belmont mine early in the morning. Men had already gone below before the seriousness of the fire was realized. Extremely toxic fumes caused calls to the hoist operator. The men were becoming frantic. Many men were brought to safety but seventeen men perished in the mine that day. All died from the fumes and not the fire. A number of the dead had actually made it to the lift but were so weak that they fell from the cage to their deaths at the bottom of the shaft. The cause of the deadly fire was a candle left on dry timber by a careless workman. This was the only mining accident in the Tonopah mines. The Belmont Mine soon was reopened and went on to produce thirty eight million in silver and gold before its closure following another fire in 1939.

OOOnnneee HHHuuunnndddrrreeeddd YYYeeeaaarrrsss LLLaaattteeerrr

During the 100 year Memorial of the Belmont Mine fire I was fortunate enough to get to the various events/locations with Clair Blackburn and the entire group of paranormal activity people.

Wednesday Feb. 23rd, I went to the Belmont Mine shaft location for the memorial prayer and reading of the names of the men killed in the fire.

Thursday Feb. 24th, everyone came up to the mining park, where I gave them a tour, starting with the Desert Queen mine. On that tragic day 100 years ago several men had to be rescued through the Desert Queen when the fire started. I also showed them the Mizpah mine so that they could get a better understanding of the mine shafts and how mining operations worked back then. It was rather impressive to everyone there; and they took several pictures and some video of the mining park.

Then on Saturday Feb. 26th, Clair and Teralyn Blackburn came up

to the park bringing cookies and refreshments and Clair spoke of

how the Desert Queen tied into the Big Bill Murphy story and the

fact that Big Bill ran from the Desert Queen over the mountain to

the Belmont mine to rescue his co workers when the fire started.

This Memorial service was held one hundred years to the day of

this horrific tragedy. I think that is wonderful how this story has

finally been brought to light. Big Bill Murphy was an unsung hero

and his story was one that needed telling even if it took nearly

one hundred years to do so. Even though this was a very tragic

event in Tonopah’s history I personally feel very blessed to have

been able to be involved with the memorial service.

Heather Ingalls, THMP Park Tour Guide “““BBBiiiggg””” BBBiiillllll MMMuuurrrppphhhyyy

Statue designed and built by Adam Skiles, Dedicated May 28th, 2005.

4

Have you ever read the ingredients in makeup, shampoo or toothpaste? It might surprise you. Many personal-care products

contain a wealth of mineral materials taken from the earth. Take for example, eye shadow. One of the first ingredients listed

in eye shadow is usually talc – a magnesium silicate mineral. Its platy crystal habit is in part the reason why talc has been

an important ingredient in cosmetics since 3500 B.C. The plates glide smoothly across each other, allowing makeup to be

applied easily. They lie across the pores in the skin and lessen the chance of clogging pores, while providing texture to the

skin. Yet they are translucent enough not to be seen. Talc is resistant to acids, bases, and heat and tends to repel water. In

addition to eye shadows, talc is used in loose and pressed powders, blushes, is a filler in some deodorants, and is added to

lotions and creams. Talc can also be found in chewing gum and pharmaceuticals. Mica, a mineral widely used in eye

shadows, powder, lipstick, and nail polish, is added to give luster or pearlescence to a product. Mica is resistant to

ultraviolet light, heat, weather and chemical attack and adheres to the skin. Like talc, it has excellent slip characteristics

and may be used to replace talc in a makeup. When coated with iron oxide, mica flakes sparkle with a gold tint.

Kaolin, a clay, is added to makeup to absorb moisture. It covers the skin well, will stay on the skin, and is resistant to oil.

Kaolin and another clay, bentonite, are added to the earth-based face masks or packs predominately for their cleansing

effects. Clays are also used as fillers in different products. Powdered calcite, a calcium carbonate, absorbs moisture.

Because of this, calcite and a magnesium carbonate, processed from dolomite, are added to powders to increase the ability

of the makeup to absorb moisture.

California. William Bunting, Nancy’s brother and Harry Ramsey’s grand-nephew are in charge of construction

and restoration. “Uncle Harry was a pioneer in 1900, I feel like a pioneer one hundred and eleven years later

and couldn’t be more excited,” said Bunting as he eyed his new project.

Bunting is a general contractor, licensed in both California and Nevada and is well known for building wineries

and reconstructing older buildings. He continued, “First we need to get the lights on, then we will get to

work!” The grand re-opening is projected for this summer.

Photo credits to Teresa Madsen and the Central Nevada Museum

Editor’s Note: The mining park, as well as the greater central Nevada area is excited and pleased to

welcome this grand old lady back. This will serve as a catalyst to remember Tonopah as a central meeting

place in the silver state; boosting both local economics and heritage tourism.

Makeup –

A Wealth of Minerals

By Donna Boreck and Liane Kadnuck

~ Mizpah Hotel - continued from page 2 ~

5

Mark your calendars for June 25th

and 26th as we enjoy another

weekend of blacksmithing at the

park. Yes, folks, we’re having

another Hammer In. Let's get

together and create something

artistic and wonderful! Cost is

$20.00 for the weekend which

includes your coal. Bring your

own mild steel, tools, anvil and

forge. Registration forms may be

found at the mining park’s website

www.TonopahHistoricMiningPark

.com. Liability waivers must be

signed in the mining park office.

RSVP to Tonopahminingpark@

gmail.com. For more info call

(775)-482-9274. Hope to see you

there!

Mining Park’s Blacksmith Wish List

In anticipation of our upcoming Blacksmithing Classes the park would like to acquire the following equipment. The mining park is a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.

1) Hammers: cross pein, ball

pein, straight pein

2) Anvil(s)

3) Forges

4) Blowers

5) Tongs: Chain makers,

“Tom” tongs, Wolf Jaw

tongs, pickup tongs,

square/round hollow bit,

close-mouth, open-mouth,

bolt tongs, rivet tongs

6) Mild Steel: 10/20 (Hot

Rolled), misc. sizes ¼, 3/8,

½, ¾ - square, round

7) Blacksmith Coal/Coke

8) Tool Steel: square, round

John Davis

It is with great sadness that

we report the passing of

THMP Foundation Trustee,

John Davis. A former mining

and civil engineer and land

surveyor, Judge Davis was in

his fourth, six-year term in

the Fifth Judicial District.

Davis was an athlete and

avid outdoorsman. He will

be remembered for his years of service to Nye

County. Several memorials

have been made to the

mining park in his honor.

California Blacksmith Association

2011 Spring Conference

April 28 – May 1 In Vista, California www.calsmith.org

Call (707) 527-5346 or secretary@calsmith.org

6

If you enjoyed the Oscar-winning Martin Scorsese film, The Aviator, about the life of Howard Hughes, you may have been left wanting more. The movie concentrates on the first half of his life, with only a hint of his life in Las Vegas. Local newspaperman and author Geoff Schumacher has scratched that itch with his research on Hughes time in Nevada, with plenty of detail on his time in Tonopah and his mining claims buying spree. One of the people Schumacher relied on for insight was one of our own founding members and legendary Nevada prospector, John Livermore. According to Schumacher, Hughes had an "Interest in buying mining claims across Nevada. He wanted to take advantage of rising gold and silver prices. (John) Meier reported to Hughes (through [Robert] Maheu) that a big profit could be turned from the venture. He estimated silver, lead, zinc, gold and copper valued at $150 million could be dug out of Nevada's old mines. “John Meier has estimated the approximate net profit after development would be $50 million,” Maheu said in a memo to Hughes...Meier spent millions buying old mining claims on the Comstock Lode near Virginia City, in the gold and silver country of Tonopah (where Hughes had secretly married Jean Peters in l957), and in several other parts of the state. He plunked down $750,000 for the Mizpah mine in Tonopah, the highest figure paid for a single claim...Hughes' mining investments generated excitement in rural Nevada communities longing for an economic boost. In Tonopah, where Hughes had purchased the original claims discovered by Jim Butler in

1900, some residents adopted a wait-and-see attitude, while others were confident that Hughes would come through....It eventually became clear that Meier had masterminded an intricate conspiracy in which he and several other associates profited handsomely from selling the worthless or near-worthless claims to Hughes at inflated prices (Hughes paid out a total of $20 million for mining claims.)....Bob Perchetti, a Tonopah native who operates a motel there today, said the old mines Meier bought around Tonopah weren't all worthless, but it would have been difficult to reopen. "There is good silver in those mines, but it's very, very deep," Perchetti explained ....Imagine what would have happened if Hughes had hired the best and the brightest to head up his Nevada mining venture. For example, what if he had hired John Livermore? Livermore is a legend in the gold-prospecting field...In a 2007 interview, Livermore remembered the days when Hughes was buying up old mining claims. Most of the claims were 'pretty worthless' he said. But if Hughes had hired the right people, he just might have hit pay dirt. In the '70's - just after Hughes left Las Vegas and abandoned the mining venture - there were several big gold discoveries in Nevada. Livermore found a new ore body about twenty miles north of Winnemucca in l971. Hughes “idea wasn't wrong”

Livermore said, “he just didn't have the right people advising him.” Reprinted with permission from Stephens Press. Geoff Schumacher. Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia & Palace Intrigue. c.2008 www.howardhughesinlasvegas.com This book can be purchased at Amazon.com or directly from Stephens Press

7

DAR Project to Benefit the Park

Statewide the Daughters of the American

Revolution or DAR have under taken a project to

help the mining park. Historic preservation is one

of the three main missions of the international

organization. Education, Patriotism and Historic

Preservation together have, since 1890, been the

goal nationally. During the administration of Karen

Lampus, Nevada State Regent for 2010 and 2012,

historic preservation has been chosen as a primary

activity. DAR has dedicated a large bronze plaque

recognizing the home of Blanch Sprague founder of

DAR in Nevada February 12, 1910. Blanche

Sprague came to Goldfield with her husband

because he had mining interests in Central Nevada.

The Nevada State Daughters of the American

Revolution (DAR) meet annually in Tonopah for

their summer meetings.

The house is in Goldfield and is now known as “The

Gables”. Formal ceremonies were held August 22,

2010 during Goldfield Days recognizing a century of

DAR in Nevada.

The other historic preservation activity that will in

part benefit the Tonopah Historic Mining Park is to

seek a national DAR “Special Projects Grant”.

Beautiful Faberge pendants have been especially

designed for this effort, and they will be sold

exclusively by DAR. They are 14K gold with

Swarovski crystals. They portray a reticulated or

open lantern with a lighted candle inside. The

pendant with candle represents the lamp or light of

knowledge. This beautiful pendant can be worn as

a necklace or charm on a bracelet. The pendant

does not carry a DAR emblem, therefore it may be

worn by anyone wishing to support the Tonopah

Historic Mining Park. It comes in either red or blue

Faberge enamel and costs $65.00 plus shipping.

Checks may be made out to Nevada State Society

DAR. Orders may be placed by contacting Rebecca

Eisenman, 2504 Rancho Bel Air Drive, Las Vegas,

NV 89107 or Mimi Rodden, 509 Carmel Mesa Drive,

Henderson, NV 89012.

This DAR historic preservation project emphasizes

the importance of mining history to our Silver

State. The founder of DAR in Nevada came to

Goldfield because of the mining boom in the

central part of our state. Now just over 100 years

later, the organization is again stressing the

importance of this vibrant industry. The pendant

project ties yesteryear to the present and makes a

positive commitment to the future.

8

Silver Peak: THEN

"Silver Peak completes a geographical triangle

with Tonopah and Goldfield...Oldtimers always

said Mexican prospectors were the first to

discover Silver Peak, Nevada, and related

evidence suggests that might be true …

Whoever arrived first had to tolerate plenty of

solitude in this vast desert, silent except for the

song of a few birds, the scuttle of a lizard

scrambling under a sage brush, and the clank

of a pick against hard rock. They must have

believed the 1859 Comstock Lode wasn't the

only rich strike to be found in Nevada...The first

prospectors of record in the Silver Peak area

arrived sometime in 1863 or 1864 from nearby

mining camps...Claims were filed on seven

locations during that first year between July 27,

1864 and August, 1865, and Silver Peak

seemed destined for fame and fortune. Today,

few recall the oldest stories that began with

Silver Peak's magnetic attraction for East

Coast dollars. Among its investors were

Samuel J. Tilden, prominent politican who

became Governor of New York State (1875-

1876) and a presidential candidate in 1876;

John I. Blair, wealthy banker and railroad

financier from New Jersey; and E.L. Cord,

famous for automobile manufacturing...They

joined forces with locally famous miners whose

names are still familiar in the area - names like

Chiatovich, Hill, Humphry, Shirley,

Vollmar...they kept Silver Peak from becoming

just another ghost town." In 2002, Victoria

Ford wrote, "Once again the Mineral Ridge is

searching for a few gamblers to bet on another

heyday. Thus Silver Peak begins a new

century, not as a ghost town - never a ghost

town - but as a mining town

still in the game, still holding a good hand and

still drawing the interest of outsiders who will

work in partnership with local residents."

Reprinted with Permission of University of Nevada Oral

History Program. Silver Peak Never a Ghost Town by Victoria

Ford, 2002.

NOW

In the 1960's lithium mining began in Silver

Peak, which still boasts the country's only

lithium-producing mine. Although Nevada's

lithium industry has been eclipsed, the

Chemetall Foote Lithium Operation in Clayton

Valley still boasts our country’s only

lithium-producing mine today. According the

the Las Vegas Sun (Lithium Could Give

Nevada's Economy a Needed Jolt 2/4/201L)

Chemetall Foote is spending $57 million on

upgrading and

doubling the size of

it's operations. It's

being aided by a

$28.4 million grant

from the U.S Energy

Department. Other

sites in Nevada are

being considered by

Lithium Corp. in an

area called Fish Lake

Valley, west of Silver

Peak and in King's

Valley in northwestern Nevada by Western

Lithium. With lithium uses ranging from

batteries that may be in high demand for a new

automobile industry as well as current

production of laptop computers, glass,

ceramics, and pharmaceuticals, the possibility

of growth allows Silver Peak, once again, to

hold the hope that it will retain it's status,

"Never a Ghost Town."

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE: Lithium could give Nevada's

Economy a Needed Boost, Las Vegas Sun, February 4, 2011

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/04/lithium-could-

give-nevadas-economy-needed-jolt/

9

By: Kelci Parks Courtesy of Tonopah Times Bonanza

The Historic Tonopah Mining

Park (park) recently added a

new display to their collection.

After a request by park employee Heather Ingalls

for local operations to design and donate exhibits,

representative from Chemetall in Silver Peak

quickly put together an impressive display that

describes the company’s history, operations and

more.

Chemetall Foote, which is the only operating

domestic lithium resource in the US, extracts

lithium salts by brine evaporation. The brine is

pumped from salt-rich aquifers beneath the desert

and evaporated in large ponds on the desert

surface. The concentrated brine is then pumped to

a production plant at Silver Peak where it is

converted into lithium carbonate, the basic raw

material for lithium compounds.

Chemetall is the world’s leading manufacturer of

lithium-based compounds and an innovative

developer of metal-based fine chemicals for use in

specialty applications. Chemetall’s lithium-based

compounds are used in a variety of high growth

applications, including base chemicals for

numerous industries, drug intermediates

elastomers for car tires and rubber soles, lithium

batteries, thermoplastic materials and high

performance greases. Chemetall has lithium

production locations all over the world with

facilities in Chile, Germany and Taiwan.

The park encompasses portions of four of the

original major mining companies and spreads

across more than 100 acres. The rich history of

Tonopah is brought to life through preserved and

restored equipment and buildings. Visitors are

welcome to explore all of the buildings in a self-

guided tour.

The park now features a trail system for mountain

bike access and its latest addition is a six passenger

ATV. The grounds are in a constant state of

growth, adding new exhibits and restoration of

existing buildings is an ongoing project. For more

information on the new display, park hours or

tours, contact the mining park at 482-9274.

Join the

Tonopah Historic Mining Park

A 501c(3) tax free organization

Individual …………………………$20

Family ……………………………..$25

Business…………………………..$50

(Individual)

Life………………….…………………$250

(Family/Business) Life.……..$350

(Individual/Family Life)

Benefactor…………………………...$1000

(Business Life) Benefactor…..$1500

----------------------------------

Name_____________________

Address___________________

City ______________________

State_____ Zip _____________

E-mail Address___________________

Mail your Membership to

Tonopah Historic Mining Park,

PO Box 965, Tonopah, NV 89049

New Display

COMPOSITION OF AN AUTOMOBILE (U.S.)What we have illustrated here with the automobile applies to virtually every

manufactured article you use every day of your life. The house you live in, the road youdrive on, and even the glasses you may be using to read this brochure, all find their

origin in our mines.

2,245 Ibs. iron & steel26 Ibs. copper24 Ibs. lead18 Ibs. zinc512 Ibs. rubber & plastics85 Ibs. glass140 Ibs. aluminum100 Ibs. upholstery, etc.

3,150 Ibs. Total

Amount of Raw MaterialsRequired

4,960 Ibs. iron ore2,600 Ibs. copper ore960 Ibs. lead ore720 Ibs. zinc ore980 Ibs. crude oil170 Ibs. silica sand560 Ibs. bauxite250 Ibs. misc. materials

11,200 Ibs. Total

lOa Ibs.MISC.

241bs.LEAD

181bs.ZINC

IF IT CAN'T BE GROWN, IT HAS TO BE MINEDOriginally adapted by the Western Mining Council, Rand - EI Paso Mountains Chapter, P.O. Box 127,

Randsburg, CA 93554.

11

At least 50 people from

around the state are

expected to participate

in Nye County’s first

LAST training

scheduled for April 29

through May 1. LAST,

a search and rescue

acronym for “Locate,

Assess, Stabilize and

Transport”, will bring

search and rescue, mine

rescue, fire rescue, law

enforcement, and

emergency medical

responders to Tonopah

Historic Mining Park to

participate in this first-

of-its-kind event.

Patty Winters, EMS

Coordinator/Trainer

with Nye County

Emergency Services,

said “We chose the

Mining Park because

we wanted a mining

theme and believed that

there was no better

place than this to stage

our training. This is a

unique opportunity

since there are many

parts of the park we can

use to expose our

participants to mining

hazards and teach them

the proper LAST

methods. There’s also

no safer place to do

this.”

The multiple classroom

and hands-on training

classes include slope

rescue, with a special

night slope rescue

scheduled during the

weekend. Tactical

medic training will be

offered for law

enforcement officers

and SWAT officers

who are medically

trained. Lt. Mike

Dolfin of the Nye

County Sheriff’s Office

will provide UTV/ATV

safety and awareness

training, as well as

weapons of mass

destruction training.

WMD training is a

federal requirement for

all emergency

responders and helps

agencies improve their

chances to qualify for

federal project funding.

“Stay Out and Stay

Alive” training for

youth 12 and older will

also be offered, as well

as a CPR and first aid

course for scouts and

other youth so they can

certify or recertify.

Registration opens on

Friday, April 29 with

classroom and hands on

sessions on Saturday

and Sunday.

For more information

contact Patty Winters at

pwinters@co.nye.nv.us.

12

NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS:

TONOPAH HISTORIC MINING PARK

PHYSICAL ADDRESS - 110 BURRO, TONOPAH, NV 89049

MAILING ADDRESS - PO BOX 965, TONOPAH, NV 89049

WWW.TONOPAHHISTORICMININGPARK.COM

Continued from page 1

On Sunday, the amateurs take over. Young

and old participate in single and team mucking,

a mining relay race, and the popular

wheelbarrow obstacle course. Age categories

start at 7 years and under. Special sized ore

cars are used for the younger divisions but all

those older than 15 get to muck the same

amount of dirt as the professionals. There are

a lot of other activities happening at the

Tonopah Historic Mining Park while the championships are going on. The mining park is offering free

admission to the park's 110-acre walking tour. An arm wrestling tournament also takes place on

Sunday. Numerous vendors ply their trades to the visitors. It is a wonderful weekend for the whole

family and a unique experience you will ever forget!